Investigation of piezoelectric effect in lithium tantalate crystals by high-resolution X-ray diffractometry

Lithium tantalate crystals under the action of an external electric field have been studied by x-ray diffractometry. Both single-domain samples and crystals with a regular domain structure have been investigated. In the case of a single-domain crystal, the angular position of the Bragg peak varies under the action of an external electric field due to the reverse piezoelectric effect. According to this variation, the corresponding tensor component of piezoelectric constants can be calculated. In the crystal with a regular domain structure, a surface relief appears under the action of an external electric field. Piezoelectric constants can also be calculated using this relief.     

Nonvolatile two-color holographic recording in near-stoichiometric lithium niobate crystals gated by incoherent ultraviolet light

Nonvolatile two-color holographic recording gated by incoherent ultraviolet （UV） light centered at 365 nm is investigated in near-stoichiometric lithium niobate crystals. The influence of thermal treatment on the two-color recording is studied. The results show that thermal reduction tends to improve the two-color recording performance, whereas thermal oxidation degrades the two-color recording. With an incoherent 0.2-W/cm2 UV gating light and a 0.25-W/cm2 semiconductor recording laser at 780 nm, a two-color recording sensitivity of 4 × 10^-3 cm/J and a recording dynamic range characterized by M/# of 0.12 are achieved in a 2.2-mm thermally reduced near-stoichiometric lithium niobate crystal. We attribute the improvement to the prolonged lifetime of small polarons and the increased absorption at the gating wavelength due to thermal reduction.     

Two-step holographic recording in photorefractive lithium niobate crystals using ultrashort laser pulses

We investigate non-volatile holographic data storage in photorefractive lithium niobate crystals. Infrared picosecond laser pulses are used to write holograms after sensitizing the crystal with blue light from a cw-laser. The dependence of the dynamic range and the photoconductivity on the pulse intensities and the recording wavelength is investigated in detail. The results can be explained by a two-center model if the mean intensity of the laser pulses is considered. We demonstrate that several fixed holograms can be multiplexed by employing the wavelength multiplexing technique.     

Photorefractive properties of iron-doped lithium tantalate crystals

Iron-doped lithium tantalate crystals are grown by the Czochralski method and their photorefractive properties are examined with holographic methods. Dynamic range, holographic sensitivity, photoconductivity, and dark storage time are measured in dependence on the iron concentration and light intensity. The largest refractive-index change for ordinarily polarized light is 3.5×10^-4, in comparison with 6.2×10^-4 for iron-doped lithium niobate. Due to a small mobility of protons the dark storage time of holograms in lithium tantalate is larger than that in lithium niobate. PACS 42.40.Pa; 42.70.Ln     

Nonvolatile holographic storage in iron-doped lithium tantalate with continuous-wave laser light

Holograms have been recorded in congruent LiTaO(3):Fe with continuous-wave laser light by use of a two-step process. Blue gating light (lambda=488 nm) sensitizes the crystals for holographic recording with red light (lambda=660 nm) of a diode laser. Refractive-index changes of as much as 1.0x10(-5) are achieved for intensities of the red light of 1 W/cm(2) . The saturation values are proportional to the intensity of the writing light. Nondestructive readout with red light is possible, and the holograms remain erasable for blue light.     

Thermal lens spectrometry in pyroelectric lithium niobate crystals

In this work, the light-induced lens effect due to thermal and/or photorefractive processes was studied in pyroelectric (undoped and Fe²⁺-doped) lithium niobate crystals (LiNbO₃) using thermal lens spectrometry with a two-beam (pump–probe) mode-mismatched configuration. The measurements were carried out at two pump beam wavelengths (514.5 and 750 nm) to establish a full understanding of the present effects in this material (thermal and/or photorefractive). We present an easy-to-implement method to determine quantitative values of the pyroelectric coefficient (dP _s/dT), its contribution to the thermal effect and other thermo-optical parameters like thermal diffusivity (D), thermal conductivity (K) and temperature coefficient of the optical path length change (ds/dT). These measurements were performed in LiNbO₃ and LiNbO₃:Fe (0.1 ppm Fe²⁺) crystals with c axis along the direction of laser propagation.     

Localized holographic recording in doubly doped lithium niobate

Persistent holograms are recorded locally with red light in a LiNbO>(3) crystal doped with Mg and Fe. Selective erasure is realized by use of a focused UV sensitizing light. We demonstrate the recording of 50 localized images as well as selective erasure in a 4 mm x 4 mm x 4 mm crystal. A comparison of the total recording time for M holograms obtained with the conventional distributed-volume recording and the localized methods is presented.     

Anomalous electron emission from lithium niobate and lithium tantalate single crystals

Anomalous electron emission from the surface of LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ single crystals excited by soft x radiation has been discovered and is investigated. The absence of anomalous emission from the face of these single crystals is established. The experimental results confirm the theoretical conclusions that the anomalous emission is caused by the presence of a maximum in the distribution of the potential in the near-surface layer. The dependence of the lifetime τ of the anomalous emission on the dielectric constant ɛ of the ferroelectric is calculated. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 679–682 (April 1997)     

Infrared holographic recording in LiNbO3:Cu

Holograms may be recorded in photorefractive LiNbO₃:Cu with pulsed infrared light (wavelength =1064 nm, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser), if the crystals are previously or simultaneously illuminated with a green (=532 nm) light pulse. We study refractive index changes and time constants of as-grown and thermally treated crystals with different copper concentrations. A model explaining this effect is discussed.     

Optical properties of lithium niobate and lithium tantalate crystals with impurities and defects

The photoinduced and Raman scattering in lithium niobate and lithium tantalate crystals with impurities and defects have been studied. An exciting laser beam propagated either along the ferroelectric Z axis or perpendicular to it. The conditions for exciting transverse and longitudinal polar optical modes in Raman spectra are established. The regularities of the excitation of Raman spectra in several polarization geometries (X(ZZ)Y, Z(XX, Y Y)Z, Z(XX, Y Y)Z, X(ZX)Y, X(ZX)X and X(ZX)X) have been investigated. Additional (extra) spectral lines are interpreted as a manifestation of a biphonon enhanced by the Fermi resonance and the result of violation of selection rules for pseudoscalar modes of the A ₂ type due to the reduction of the point symmetry group caused by the presence of impurities and defects in real crystals. The conditions for exciting coherent longitudinal and transverse modes in lithium niobate and lithium tantalate single crystals upon stimulated Raman scattering are analyzed. The temperature evolution of the spectra recorded in the X(ZZ)Y geometry near the ferroelectric phase transition point is explained based on the concept of effective soft mode and analysis of the isofrequency opalescence effect. Strong photoluminescence is found in copper-doped lithium niobate crystals.     

An optical spectroscopy study of defects in lithium tantalate single crystals

The congruent, stoichiometric, and Mg doped stoichiometric LiTaO₃ single crystals have been successfully grown by the Czochralski technique. The evolution of defect structures caused by varying composition and post-growth processing has been evaluated from the optical absorption and photoluminescence measurements. Optical absorption studies showed that the UV absorption edge is very sensitive to the composition of LiTaO₃ crystals. Photoluminescence of various LiTaO₃ single crystals at room temperature was observed. The emission bands centered at 360, 430, and 530 nm were assigned to different defects, which can well show the defect information in LiTaO₃ crystals.     

Two-center holographic recording in highly doped LiNbO3 crystals

In this paper, we report the observation of electron tunneling during two-center recording in LiNbO₃:Fe:Mn doped with high Fe concentration. Unlike tunneling in the singly doped lithium niobate that erases the hologram, the effect in two-center recording can improve the diffraction efficiency of the hologram after the recording while it is kept in the dark. A detailed study of this effect in LiNbO₃:Fe:Mn is presented both theoretically and experimentally. We show that the hologram strength may increase or decrease due to tunneling, depending on the experimental condition of recording. PACS 42.40.-i; 42.70.Ln; 42.40.Lx     

Two-photon induced photorefraction in undoped lithium tantalate crystals with different compositions

Two-photon interband photorefraction in undoped lithium tantalate crystals with composition ranging from 47.95 to 49.6 mol% of lithium oxide was demonstrated at the wavelength of 532 nm. The photorefractive properties were examined with holographic method. Two-photon holograms were recorded with high holographic sensitivity, large refractive index change, and fast hologram writing time. Permanent changes of the refractive index have been obtained. These holograms can be read nondestructively at the wavelength of 660 nm using heterodyne method. Holographic characteristics strongly depend on composition.     

Image recording in doped crystals of lithium niobate

In lithium niobate crystals doped with iron, copper, rhodium, and ruthenium ions, the optical image recording is feasible when the illumination gradient is directed parallel to the polar axis of the crystal. Depending on the dopant type, the doping level, and external conditions (for instance, the recording time), the storage time of the image can reach 60 days. The effect of polarization of recording radiation on the contrast of the recorded image is investigated.     

Self-deflection of laser beams during holographic recording in photorefractive crystals

We have observed dynamic deflection of laser beams reflected from a crystal surface during recording of dynamic holograms in a photorefractive crystal. A theory describing the principal experimental facts is presented. The model takes into account the nonlinear interaction of space-charge waves. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 4, 253–256 (25 August 1999)     

Incremental holographic recording in lithium niobate with active phase locking

Angular-multiplexed hologram recording in iron-doped lithium niobate crystals was carried out with near-infrared light. An incremental recording schedule with active phase locking of the light pattern onto the hologram was used. Continuous and reproducible recording of holograms of equal efficiency was achieved, and a hologram multiplexing number, M/#=2 , for a 5-mm-thick crystal was obtained at a 760-nm wavelength of light.     

Complex study of bulk screening processes in single crystals of lithium niobate and lithium tantalate family

Comprehensive study of depolarization field bulk screening was carried out in lithium niobate and lithium tantalate single crystals with various stoichiometry. Three used complementary methods are based on: 1) dependence of coercive field on delay time; 2) decrease of optical contrast of domain wall trace; 3) relaxation of light diffraction intensity on domain walls. The following parameters of bulk screening process were obtained: relaxation time constants, type of relaxation law, maximal value of bias field and “true” value of coercive field. Advantages and disadvantages of used experimental methods were analyzed.     

The off-axis pyroelectric effect observed for lithium tetraborate

We find a pyroelectric current along the 〈110〉 direction of stoichiometric Li₂B₄O₇ so that the pyroelectric coefficient is nonzero but roughly 10⁻³ smaller than along the 〈001〉 direction of spontaneous polarization. Abrupt decreases in the pyroelectric coefficient along the 〈110〉 direction can be correlated with anomalies in the elastic stiffness contributing to concept that the pyroelectric coefficient is not simply a vector but has qualities of a tensor, as expected. The time dependent surface photovoltaic charging suggests that an inverse piezoelectric effect occurs at the (110) surface but not the (100) surface. Both effects along the 〈110〉 direction or at the (110) surface are distinct the conventional as a bulk pyroelectric effect.     

Self-trapped electrons in lithium tantalate

The electron spin resonance spectrum of Ta⁴⁺ ions has been investigated in LiTaO₃. These defects were produced either by irradiating as-grown crystals with X-rays or by optically bleaching crystals that had been previously reduced. In both cases, the Ta⁴⁺ ions were stable only at temperatures near or below 77 K. The g and hyperfine matrix parameters for the Ta⁴⁺ spectrum are g₆ = 1.503, g_⊥ = 1.172, A₆ = ∼0, and A_⊥ = 699 MHz. These parameters describe a 5d¹ electron on the tantalum ion, and we conclude that the defect represents a “self-trapped” electron at the normal Ta⁵⁺ site.     

High-efficiency nonvolatile holographic storage with two-step recording in praseodymium-doped lithium niobate by use of continuous-wave lasers

We have observed efficient two-photon, two-step recording in a praseodymium-doped lithium niobate crystal by use of cw lasers. Single-photon erasure during the readout at near-infrared wavelengths was found to be negligible. Nonvolatile holographic image storage was demonstrated. This progress is an important step in the realization of an economically feasible nonvolatile read-write holographic recording system based on low-cost semiconductor diode lasers.